Land Trust Staff Tours Selective Water Withdrawal Station

Apr 12, 2010

On April 6th Land Trust staff had the opportunity to tour the Selective Water Withdrawal Tower and Fish Collection Facility at Round Butte Dam to learn how local fish releases are just the beginning of the effort to bring anadromous fish back to their home waters.

Bracken fern light up the forests of the Metolius Preserve. Photo: Jay Mather.

Bracken fern light up the forests of the Metolius Preserve. Photo: Jay Mather.

Last week, Land Trust staff had the opportunity to tour the Selective Water Withdrawal Tower and Fish Collection Facility at Round Butte Dam to learn how these fish releases are just the beginning of the effort to bring anadromous fish back to their home waters.

Pit-Tagging Station and Recovery Tank

Pit-Tagging Station and Recovery Tank

According to Don Ratliff, Fish Biologist for PGE, the numbers of spring Chinook smolts and sockeye caught in the fish transfer facility have been increasing in recent weeks. They expect to see increasing numbers of spring Chinook and sockeye smolts through April and an increase in steelhead later in the spring--likely mid April through June.

As the reintroduction of anadromous fish gains momentum, the Deschutes Land Trust is hard at work preparing for their return in Whychus Creek. Our work to restore Whychus Creek at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve and to acquire two additional miles of Whychus Creek all centers around one goal: to create a steelhead stronghold in Whychus Creek and assure the successful reintroduction of anadromous fish in this area.